Meeting/Event Information

Please join ITE Arizona for a Safety Panel covering the topic of Safety Action Plans. Jenn O'Connor (Planning Director for NACOG) will present how a rural Councils of Governments works with local jurisdictions to develop and implement transportation Safety Action Plans. Sabine King (City of Mesa Supervising Engineer) will present how the City of Mesa used the Safety Action Plan to position itself to prepare competitive implementation grant applications. Kerry Wilcoxon (ADOT State Traffic Engineer) will be our moderator.

Jenn O'Connor

Jenn O’Connor is the Planning Director for Northern Arizona Council of Governments (NACOG), which is based in Flagstaff, Arizona. She oversees regional roadway, transit, and passenger transportation planning across a four-county region of over 41,335 square miles.

 NACOG serves over 22 jurisdictions, two large native nations, five rural transit providers and numerous non-profit organizations. Under her leadership, NACOG’s Regional Planning program has seen the establishment of a competitive Regional Priority Projects List that is used to seek state funding for local roadway project, along with active engagement with state legislators throughout the year to educate them on the identified roadway infrastructure needs. She oversaw the completion of the 2023 Regional Transportation Safety Plan, which included extensive public and stakeholder engagement, the identification of prioritized safety projects for each local public agency with high level scopes and budgets, and a regional Rural Road Safety Proclamation approved by NACOG’s Regional Council. Through her leadership, the transportation program has also expanded tribal participation in regional planning on a range of issues including transit, roadway infrastructure and safety.

 Jenn was recognized as a Rural Transportation Champion at the 2024 Arizona Rural Transportation Summit for elevating NACOG’s transportation work to the “indispensable” level in partnership with the local counties and municipalities.

 Jenn has over 18 years of experience working with public and nonprofit organizations to improve transportation, housing, and community development services. In her free time, Jenn enjoys camping with her husband and daughter, playing fiddle in a band (Of Kith & Kin), reading, and hanging out with her book club.

Sabine King

Sabine King, P.E., is a Supervising Engineer with the City of Mesa’s Transportation Department and has been a public servant since 2012. In her current role, she oversees the planning, scoping, and review of Transportation Capital Improvement Projects, the Bicycle and Pedestrian Program, and Transportation Planning initiatives for Arizona’s third-largest city. Originally from Germany, Ms. King earned her Civil Engineering degree from the University of Applied Sciences in Würzburg and relocated to Mesa in 2006. An adventurer at heart, she enjoys exploring the outdoors with her husband and dog by mountain biking, trail running, paddle boarding, and camping off the beaten path.

Kerry Wilcoxon

Kerry is the new State Traffic Engineer for the Arizona Department of Transportation where he runs the Traffic Design Group.  His section is responsible for developing signing and striping designs to improve roadway safety.  Prior to his current position, he served as the Arizona State Traffic Safety Engineer running the ADOT Traffic Safety Section.  Prior to joining ADOT, Kerry worked for the City of Phoenix where he ran the Safety and Neighborhood Traffic Division.  He is a Commissioner on the City of Scottsdale Transportation Commission as well as a registered professional engineer in Arizona and a registered Professional Traffic Operations Engineer and Road Safety Professional (Level 1) through ITE.  He is passionate about making sure that everyone using the roads in Arizona makes it to their next birthday.